Gawad Sa Manlilikha NG Bayan

GAMABA (Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan / The National Living
Treasures)
GAMABA
GAMABA or Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan also known as the National Living

Treasures, is the award given to a person or a group of artists that is recognized by the
Philippine government for their contributions to the nation’s cultural heritage.
In April 1992, the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan or the National Living Treasures Award was
institutionalized through Republic Act No. 7355. Tasked with the administration and
implementation of the Award is the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the
highest policy-making and coordinating body for culture and the arts of the State. The NCCA,
through the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan Executive Council, conducts the search for the
finest traditional artists of the land, adopts a program that will ensure the transfer of their skills to
others, and undertakes measures to promote a genuine appreciation of and instill pride among
our people about the genius of the Manlilikha ng Bayan.
The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan logo is a stylized representation of the human form
used in traditional cloth. Below the motif is ‘Manlilikha ng Bayan’ written in ancient
Filipino script extensively used throughout the Philippines at the time of Western contact
in the sixteenth century.
First awarded in 1993 to three outstanding artists in music and poetry.
The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan has its roots in the 1988 National Folk Artists Award
organized by the Rotary Club of Makati-Ayala. As a group, these folk and traditional artists
reflect the diverse heritage and cultural traditions that transcend their beginnings to become part
of our national character. As Filipinos, they bring age-old customs, crafts and ways of living to
the attention and appreciation of Filipino life. They provide us with a vision of ourselves and of
our nation, a vision we might be able to realize someday, once we are given the opportunity to
be true to ourselves as these artists have remained truthful to their art.
As envisioned under R.A. 7355, “Manlilikha ng Bayan” shall mean a citizen engaged in
any traditional art uniquely Filipino whose distinctive skills have reached such a high
level of technical and artistic excellence and have been passed on to and widely
practiced by the present generation in his/her community with the same degree of
technical and artistic competence.
HOW DOES ONE BECOME A MANLILIKHA NG BAYAN?
To become a Manlilikha ng Bayan, an individual or group candidate must:
1. Possess a mastery of tools and materials needed for the traditional, folk
art and be a maker of works of extraordinary technical quality;
2. Have consistently produced works of superior quality over a significant
period;
3. Have engaged in a traditional and folk art which has been in existence and
documented for at least fifty (50) years;
4. Command respect and inspire admiration of the country with his character
and integrity;
5. Must have transferred and/or willing to transfer to other members of the
community the skills in the traditional and folk arts for which the
community has become nationally known.
6. However, a candidate who, due to age or infirmity, has left him/her/them
incapable of teaching further his/her/their craft, may still be recognized
provided that he/she/they must possess the qualifications as enumerated
above.
CATEGORIES
The Award may cover traditional and folk arts in the areas of performing arts and craft.
Consideration shall be made for adequate representation in geographic distribution and
different artistic categories.
The categories are, but not limited to, the following categories of traditional folk arts:
 maritime transport
 weaving
 carving
 performing arts
 literature
 graphic and plastic arts
 ornament
 pottery
Other artistic expressions of traditional culture may be added.
AD HOC PANEL OF EXPERTS
To ensure a fair selection of potential awardees, the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan
Executive Council shall be assisted by an Ad Hoc Panel of Expert consisting of experts
in the traditional and folk arts categories. The names of those selected to become
members of the Ad Hoc Panel of Expert shall be submitted to the NCCA Board of
Commissioners for proper designation. The term of the members shall expire upon
completion of the search and selection process.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES OF AN AWARDEE?
For the individual awardee:
1. The rank and title of Manlilikha ng Bayan, as proclaimed by the President
of the Philippines in accordance with Executive Order No. 236 or Honors
Code of the Philippines;
2. The GAMABA gold-plated medallion minted by the Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas (BSP) and citation;
3. A lifetime emolument and materials and physical benefits comparable in
value to those received by the highest officers of the land such as:
 A minimum cash award of Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php
200,000.00), net of taxes.
 A minimum lifetime personal monthly stipend of Fifty Thousand
Pesos (Php 50,000.00).
 Medical and hospitalization benefits not exceeding Php 750,000.00
per year.
4. A state funeral, the arrangements for and the expenses of which shall be
borne by the Government, upon the death of the Manlilikha ng Bayan; and
5. A place of honor, in line with protocol precedence, in state functions,
national commemoration ceremonies and all other cultural presentations.
For the group awardee:
1. The rank and title of Manlilikha ng Bayan, as proclaimed by the President

of the Philippines in accordance with Executive Order No. 236 or Honors
Code of the Philippines;
2. The GAMABA plaque for the group;
3. A one-time award of Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 200,000.00), net
of taxes;
4. The group shall designate its leader who will represent and attend events
and functions on behalf of the group. The said representative will also
have a place of honor, in line with protocol precedence, in state functions,
national commemoration ceremonies and all other cultural presentations.
AWARDEES OF GAWAD SA MANLILIKHA NG BAYAN
As defined by UNESCO, the bearers of intangible cultural heritage are to be known
internationally as Living Human Treasures. The Filipino counterparts of this title are the
Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) awardees. There are currently sixteen
declared GAMABA awardees, all of which have exemplified the highest standard in their
respective field of expertise. The award is only given to individuals or groups that have
exhibited the highest possible standard in intangible cultural heritage. A master of the
heritage does not automatically qualify an individual or group for the award as the craft
of the master should exude a higher meaning to the highest standard set by the highly
critical council of the GAMABA board. Due to this lengthy and critical process, only
sixteen of the thousands of traditional masters have been conferred with the award.

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GAMABA (Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan / The National Living

GAMABA or Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan also known as the National Living

1. The rank and title of Manlilikha ng Bayan, as proclaimed by the President

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